Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout03. Common Council Minutes PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMON COUNCIL CITY OF OSHKOSH, WISCONSIN SEPTEMBER 26, 2017 REGULAR MEETING held Tuesday, September 26, 2017, at 6:00 p.m. in Council Chambers, City Hall Mayor Cummings presided. PRESENT: Council Members Deb Allison-Aasby, Steven Herman, Caroline Panske, Jake Krause, Tom Pech, Jr., Lori Palmeri and Mayor Steve Cummings ALSO PRESENT: Mark Rohloff, City Manager; Pamela Ubrig, City Clerk; Lynn Lorenson, City Attorney; and Allen Davis, Director of Community Development Council Member Allison-Aasby read the Invocation. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Elizabeth Bird, Gavin McMillan, Gwendolyn Volz & Braylon Zellner from Roosevelt Elementary School; and Liam Moore & Lillian Worden from Read Elementary School PROCLAMATION Mayor Cummings proclaimed September 21, 2017 as Kiwanis Club of Oshkosh's Centennial Celebration Day and called upon the people of Oshkosh to recognize and celebrate the special observance. Glen Pollack accepted the proclamation on behalf of the Kiwanis Club and thanked the Mayor and Council for the recognition. PRESENTATIONS Ken Friedman, Oshkosh Southwest Rotary Club, presented the City a curb appeal award for the tree planting on Main Street between New York Avenue and Kentucky Street. He explained they were undertaking a project to help the City maintain its water quality through presentations to neighborhood associations and North High School's community class to explain how storm water systems work. He stated they would be 1 PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMON COUNCIL—SEPTEMBER 26, 2017 passing out brochures to houses in neighborhoods that had frequent contamination. He explained they had created 'no dumping' medallions that would affix to manholes, and would continue the education outreach. Julie Hert, Chairperson for the Committee on Aging, stated they had created a strategic plan to help provide structure and guidance to accomplish their goals. She explained they had worked with several departments within the City to learn how to work together and not replicate services. Jean Wollerman, Senior Services Manager at the Oshkosh Seniors Center, stated they would be working towards strengthening relationships with the various neighborhood associations, help improve access to affordable transportation and delivery services as well as create community design and policy that supports an age friendly community. She explained they would also improve communication and visibility of available services to seniors and improve access to home services such as home maintenance and chores. Ms. Hert explained the City should be proud of the resources and services that were available to the seniors of Oshkosh. She stated their primary goal was to connect the resources and services with the individuals who need them. Council Member Palmeri questioned if there was a list of senior housing units in the City. Ms. Hert stated they did not have a list, however, Winnebago County published an annual listing. Council Member Palmeri stated in the rental advisory committee meeting it had been discussed that the City lacked a listing of available senior living properties. Ms. Hert stated the Winnebago County publication would be a valuable resource for City staff. Council Member Panske questioned if another strategic plan would be drafted after 2018 or if the present plan would remain in place. Ms. Hert stated it would continue beyond 2018. 2 PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMON COUNCIL—SEPTEMBER 26, 2017 Council Member Panske questioned if there was a timeline in place. Ms. Hert indicated that they had just began the process. Council Member Allison-Aasby thanked Council for their participation during the budget season and support for the strategic plan. She explained the committee had accomplished a great deal in establishing the strategic plan. She thanked City staff and committee members for their hard work. Council Member Herman questioned if the strategic plan would stand alone or be adopted into the City's overall strategic plan. Mr. Rohloff explained City staff would work with the committee on aging and identify ways for the City to incorporate their goals. He stated he believed it was important for individual groups to create their own strategic plans and work with City staff to accomplish goals for the larger community. Council Member Herman stated there were a number of items that aligned with the City's overall strategic plan, and he believed the committee on aging should be involved in the larger planning process. Mr. Rohloff stated he agreed. Council Member Allison-Aasby stated through meetings with various department heads it had been determined that a number of calls that were being routed through public safety were the result of seniors seeking companionship instead of assistance from police, fire or ambulance. She explained a conversation regarding how to curb that problem resulted in involving the neighborhood associations. She stated she hoped implementing the strategic plan would make Oshkosh a tighter knit community. Mayor Cummings explained Council had given City Manager Rohloff a goal to evaluate various City owned properties. Jon Urben, General Services Manager, explained the facilities and maintenance department had begun the first phase of building condition assessments with City Hall, the Grand Opera House and the parks and forestry administration building. He stated the full report, which had been provided to Council, summarized a variety of conditions 3 PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMON COUNCIL—SEPTEMBER 26, 2017 that were evaluated in each of the buildings including HVAC, roofing, electrical, plumbing and structural. He explained they had worked with Boldt Technical Services to help coordinate the effort. Doug Haas, Boldt Technical Services, described the various components of the buildings that were scheduled for repair and made explained his recommendations. He stated despite the fact that many of the buildings were over 100 years old, as a result of proper maintenance, they remained in good condition. He explained the parks and forestry administration building was not in as good of condition and would need several major repairs/replacements in the future. Council Member Herman questioned if the space needs of the buildings had been evaluated, for both the present and potential future number of employees. He explained if the buildings needed costly maintenance, it did not make sense to invest the money to repair them if they would not meet the City's future needs. Mr. Urben explained it would have taken a tremendous amount of time to go through the operational demands of each building. He stated they focused on the major building elements in the first phase of the assessments. He explained the result was that City staff was taking good care of the buildings and anything that needed to be addressed immediately had been, and other major items, such as the elevator at City Hall, was included in the Capital Improvement Program (CIP). Mr. Rohloff explained several of the elements of the parks and forestry building were in poor condition. He stated to Council Member Herman's point, he believed they needed to evaluate the viability of the building in the long term. He explained City staff had requested that Boldt complete a cost/benefit analysis of repairing vs. replacing the items that had been identified. He stated they had reached a point with the parks and forestry building where a long term decision would need to be considered. Council Member Palmeri stated she believed it should not be a decision of replace or repair; the City needed to consider other space options such as consolidation. She questioned if there would be additional information provided related to spatial analysis of the buildings prior to going into the budget season. Mr. Urben explained he believed that City staff was looking at different ways to consolidate and make better use of existing space. 4 PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMON COUNCIL—SEPTEMBER 26, 2017 PUBLIC HEARING Resolution 17-468 Approve Final Resolution for Special Assessments — Contract No. 17-31 Cold Mix Asphalt Paving: West Th Avenue (Oregon Street to Minnesota Street) Bauman Street (Van Buren Avenue to Buchanan Avenue) Minnesota Street (West 201h Avenue to West 23rd Avenue) MOTION: ADOPT (Herman; second, Allison-Aasby) MOTION: AMEND MINNESOTA STREET TO HOT MIX (Herman; second, Allison-Aasby) CARRIED: Ayes (7) Allison-Aasby, Herman, Panske, Krause, Pech, Palmeri, Mayor Cummings VOTE ON AMENDED RESOLUTION CARRIED: Ayes (7) Allison-Aasby, Herman, Panske, Krause, Pech, Palmeri, Mayor Cummings Bernard Pitz, 617 W. Irving Avenue, stated he had received a letter indicating that the paving on Minnesota Street would be completed with cold mix overlay, however, he had been told by the engineering department that hot mix overlay would be used. He explained he believed that should be changed within the resolution prior to Council voting on it. He stated he was frustrated as he had paid for street repairs in the past on a different property. He explained in the letter he received it stated that concrete streets should last 40 years, however, he had been told by other individuals that they would last 25 years. He stated he believed the City needed to be clear with what they were installing and charging. He explained he had a conversation with the State of Wisconsin who informed him if the streets were properly maintained, they should last 65 years, which was the same estimate the federal government had previously provided him. Council Member Palmeri questioned how Mr. Pitz had been informed that hot mix overlay would be used. Mr. Pitz stated he had been told by the engineering department. He explained the letter he received, as well as the Council agenda, referenced cold mix. 5 PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMON COUNCIL—SEPTEMBER 26, 2017 Steve Gohde, Assistant Director Public Works, stated he had a conversation with Mr. Pitz and indicated City staff did intend to use hot mix on Minnesota Street due to the traffic it received. He explained the correction had been missed in the agenda. Mr. Pitz questioned if Council would be voting on hot or cold mix. Council Member Palmeri questioned if the hot mix would only be used for Minnesota Street. Mr. Gohde stated that was correct. CITIZEN STATEMENTS Mayor Cummings explained those in the audience who wished to speak about Lakeshore Municipal Golf Course would need to wait until that segment of the agenda. Council Member Allison-Aasby reminded those in attendance that if they wished to speak, there was City staff located outside of Council Chambers before the meeting to assist in sign up. Brianna Kempen, 1629 Rainbow Drive, stated she was a nursing student at UW Oshkosh. She thanked the City for allowing students to park on the streets surrounding campus. She explained she had recently received several parking citations and suggested the City utilize a parking sticker for overnight parking, similar to what the University issued. She stated she believed the length of time vehicles were allowed to park on the street during the day should be extended beyond 4 hours, as it was difficult for students to go from class to class and move their vehicle. CONSENT AGENDA Report of Bills by the Finance Director Approval of Cash Report from July 2017 Receipt & Filing of Oshkosh Public Museum Board Minutes from August 3, 2017 6 PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMON COUNCIL—SEPTEMBER 26, 2017 Receipt & Filing of Common Council Minutes September 12, 2017 Receipt of Claims filed with the City's Insurance Company: A) Whitney McKinney for alleged damages to her vehicle from being hit by a fire truck B) Cheyenne Rands for alleged damages to her vehicle from the railroad tracks Resolution 17-469 Authorize Submission of Application for Waterways Commission Financial Assistance Resolution 17-470 Approve Initial Resolution for Special Assessments for Ripple Avenue Estates; 3900 Block of Oregon Street Resolution 17-471 Accept&Approve Waiver of Special Assessment Notices &Hearing in Connection with Improvements — Ripple Avenue Estates; 3900 Block of Oregon Street Resolution 17-472 Approve Final Resolution for Special Assessments for Ripple Avenue Estates; 3900 Block of Oregon Street—with Signed Waivers Resolution 17-473 Approve Developer's Agreement for Ripple Avenue Estates; 3900 Block of Oregon Street Resolution 17-474 Award Bid to V&H Inc. for Tandem Axle Truck Chassis & Compacting Side Loader for the Recycling Division ($213,315.00) Resolution 17-475 Approve Granting Privilege in Street for Groundwater Monitoring Wells at East Custer Avenue & Grand Street (Plan Commission Recommends Approval) Resolution 17-476 Approve General Development Plan& Conditional Use Permit for a Dog Daycare & Overnight Boarding at 3764 Jackson Street (Plan Commission Recommends Approval) Resolution 17-477 Approve Offer to Purchase Southwest Industrial Park Land to Atlas Avenue LLC; Between 2755 & 2875 Atlas Avenue 7 PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMON COUNCIL—SEPTEMBER 26, 2017 Resolution 17-478 Approve Special Event — Oshkosh Festivals to utilize Opera House Square & N. Main Street for the Oktoberfest Celebration & 2K Bier Run/October 7, 2017 Resolution 17-479 Approve Special Event — Oshkosh Zoological Society Inc. to utilize the Menominee Park Zoo for the Monster Bash event / October 21, 2017 Resolution 17-480 Approve Special Event—Festival Foods to utilize City streets for the Festival Foods Turkey Trot/November 23, 2017 Resolution 17-481 Appoint School Board Vice President Barb Herzog as an alternate to the Museum Board for School Board President Resolution 17-482 Disallowance of Claim by Attorney Michael Lim on behalf of parents of Logan Lefeber Resolution 17-483 Approve Special Class "B" Licenses & Operator Licenses MOTION: ADOPT CONSENT AGENDA EXCLUDING RESOLUTION 17-473 (Pech; second, Herman) CARRIED: Ayes (7) Allison-Aasby, Herman, Panske, Krause, Pech, Palmeri, Mayor Cummings Resolution 17-473 Approve Developer's Agreement for Ripple Avenue Estates; 3900 Block of Oregon Street MOTION: LAYOVER UNTIL OCTOBER 10, 2017 COUNCIL MEETING (Pech; second, Herman) CARRIED: Ayes (7) Allison-Aasby, Herman, Panske, Krause, Pech, Palmeri, Mayor Cummings Council Member Palmeri stated a developer's agreement was not included in the information although there was a waiver of special assessment notice. She asked for an explanation of the different documents. 8 PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMON COUNCIL—SEPTEMBER 26, 2017 Steve Gohde, Assistant Director Public Works, explained the developers agreement was a document that the developer signed with the City that outlined what public improvements the developer would need to make. He stated the waiver of the assessments was a document that shows what the City recovers from the costs of the public improvements, should the developer fail to complete the work. Council Member Palmeri questioned if the waiver was in place of the developers agreement. Mr. Gohde stated no. Council Member Palmeri questioned if she was missing the developers agreement. Ms. Lorenson explained it was the standard developers agreement for subdivisions. Council Member Palmeri questioned if the document was missing from the packet of information. Ms. Lorenson stated she was not certain. Mr. Rohloff explained it was not included. He stated the developer had waived their rights to receive a formal notice regarding special assessments. Council Member Herman stated he believed the developers agreement was listed under resolution 17-471, as the document discussed a two year irrevocable letter of credit, a bond and other elements that were found in a developers agreement. Mr. Gohde explained those were elements that would be included in a developers agreement that were reiterated within the waiver. Council Member Herman stated because it was private construction, it was the developers responsibility to put the infrastructure in. Mr. Gohde stated yes. 9 PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMON COUNCIL—SEPTEMBER 26, 2017 Council Member Herman explained there had been a weak agreement in place for a development near Ryf Road which resulted in the property owners having to be reassessed. He questioned if the waiver protected against that. Mr. Gohde stated it was one of the items that would allow the City to move forward in the event that special assessments would need to take place;he explained it would be the last line of defense. Council Member Herman explained there was not a developers agreement included with the resolution approving the developers agreement. Mr. Rohloff stated that was correct and he did not have an answer as to why it was not included. He explained he did not believe Council would be able to approve resolution 17-473 without the agreement. Council Member Allison-Aasby stated she agreed and was not comfortable moving forward with approval of the resolution without having a copy of the developers agreement. ACTION TAKEN ON ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS Ordinance 17-484 Approve Section 16-49(E) Pertaining to Residential Rental Inspections to Permit Delinquent Fees to be placed upon Property Tax Bills as Special Charges MOTION: ADOPT (Palmeri; second, Pech) CARRIED: Ayes (6) Allison-Aasby, Herman, Krause, Pech, Palmeri, Mayor Cummings Noes (1) Panske Resolution 17-485 Approve Combination "Class B" License for Oshkosh Arena MOTION: ADOPT (Herman; second, Pech) CARRIED: Ayes (6) Herman, Panske, Krause, Pech, Palmeri, Mayor Cummings Present (1) Allison-Aasby 10 PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMON COUNCIL—SEPTEMBER 26, 2017 Council Member Allison-Aasby explained to avoid any perceived conflict of interest, she would vote present. Resolution 17-486 Approve Amendment to 2017 Capital Improvements Program Glatz Creek Relief Storm Sewer Phase 3 ($1,645,000.00) / Morgan District Riverwalk ($575,000.00) MOTION: ADOPT (Pech; second, Allison-Aasby) CARRIED: Ayes (7) Allison-Aasby, Herman, Panske, Krause, Pech, Palmeri, Mayor Cummings Council Member Palmeri asked for an explanation of what was missed to cause the need for the amendment. James Rabe, Director Public Works, stated the item had been missed during the CIP preparation. He explained the second phase of the project was completed in conjunction with a Bureau of Aeronautics project, and the third phase was intended to be complete with the next stage of the same taxi-way project. Council Member Palmeri asked for an explanation of how reallocation from other projects would make up for the cost. Mr. Rabe explained the previous stage of the project had remaining funds that had been set aside for this phase, and in the 2017 CIP there was a project that would be delayed due to a developer, therefore that funding could also be reallocated. He stated additional funding came from the South Park redevelopment project coming in under budget. Council Member Palmeri asked for an explanation of the riverwalk extension. Mr. Davis stated the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources had granted the City approximately$800,000 towards the riverwalk construction near the Morgan District. He explained they had bid the entire length of the riverwalk to the Boat Works property, and due to the resulting bid, would be able to finish the project all the way to the Boat Works property and save approximately $1 million. He stated they had received the grant, an excellent bid and would be able to complete the project early, and therefore recommended approval. 11 PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMON COUNCIL—SEPTEMBER 26, 2017 Resolution 17-487 Award Contract No. 17-14 to Vinton Construction for Construction of Riverwalk West of Oregon Street ($1,480,538.50) MOTION: ADOPT (Pech; second, Panske) CARRIED: Ayes (7) Allison-Aasby, Herman, Panske, Krause, Pech, Palmeri, Mayor Cummings Resolution 17-488 Approve Amendment No. 2 to Intergovernmental Agreement between Winnebago County/Wittman Regional Airport & the City of Oshkosh for Installation, Maintenance & Operation of a Storm Sewer ($1,549,365.71) MOTION: ADOPT (Herman; second, Pech) CARRIED: Ayes (7) Allison-Aasby, Herman, Panske, Krause, Pech, Palmeri, Mayor Cummings COUNCIL DISCUSSION, DIRECTION TO CITY MANAGER &FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Council Member Herman asked for an explanation of the next steps regarding special events. He questioned if the topic would appear as a budget item in the future. Mr. Rohloff explained since the workshop had taken place, City staff was ready to get the 2018 rates established so they could be incorporated into the 2018 budget. He stated City staff had not received any additional input since the workshop, so the same information discussed at the workshop would be brought before Council. Council Member Herman questioned what the resolution would incorporate. Mr. Rohloff explained it created a methodology that could be used each year, so the personnel rates would be subject to inflation. He stated they had discussed using Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) rates for costs such as equipment as they were well established rates. He explained City staff recommended ramping up the fee schedule over the course of four years so event holders were not hit with the added costs at once, although they would be able to use the figures to budget for future events. Mayor Cummings reminded Council of the budget workshops scheduled for October 301h & 31s'from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. on both days. 12 PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMON COUNCIL—SEPTEMBER 26, 2017 Mr. Rohloff explained there were two available liquor licenses and there had been discussion about holding the licenses and not accepting applications at this time. He stated Council would receive the formal application for the City to obtain additional licenses for the economic development district. He explained he recommended reserving the two available licenses for the Sawdust District until it was determined if the state would grant the district additional licenses. He stated this would permit a party to apply for the 300 seat exemption license. He explained once it was determined if the City received the economic development district licenses, Council could decide what to do with the existing two open licenses. He stated using this chronology would allow for the City to maximize its liquor licenses. Council Member Herman questioned if there had been a liquor license associated with Recreation Lanes, which the City had purchased. Mr. Rohloff stated that licenses had technically been awarded to the arena. Council Member Herman stated he agreed that it made sense to reserve the open licenses for the Sawdust District until they received notice on the premier economic development district liquor licenses. Council Member Panske questioned what the harm would be in leaving the licenses open as they were and not allocating them. Mr. Rohloff stated the concern was with the 300 seat exemption. He explained the City could not award an exempt license if there were any available licenses. He stated while they felt fairly confident they would be awarded the additional licenses, it was a new initiative and was not a guarantee. Council Member Panske questioned what the timeframe of the application process was. Mr. Davis stated he had been working with City staff to develop the geographical boundary that would need to be created to meet state statutes. He explained he was working with the assessor's office to complete an appraisal for the development that would take place to meet state statutes. He stated he expected to be able to provide that information to Council the last Council meeting in October, or the first in November. He explained it should only take one reading to gain Council's approval to submit the application to the state. He stated he believed they should know by the end of the year. 13 PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMON COUNCIL—SEPTEMBER 26, 2017 Council Member Panske questioned if everything was being completed in-house. Mr. Davis stated City staff was completing the mapping and appraisal reports. Council Member Panske stated she agreed it made sense to hold the two open licenses in the Sawdust District until it was determined if there would be additional licenses granted. Mr. Rohloff explained Council had been provided with a draft timeline for consideration of Oshkosh Corporation Headquarters site location, which was similar to a timeline that had been put together for the arena. He stated City staff wished to remain prepared in the event that Oshkosh Corporation believed Oshkosh to be a viable site, and wanted citizens to be engaged in the process. He explained they had drafted two different versions of a conceptual plans for the site. He stated the concept would be reviewed with the parks advisory board and plan commission, followed by public input sessions. He explained there would then be a discussion with Council in closed session to develop a strategy for conversations with Oshkosh Corporation. He stated Council would need to consider the approval of the plan at a future date. He explained he believed they needed to get further clarification from Oshkosh Corporation on where Oshkosh stood as far as a consideration for the site. He stated the goal was to have a plan ready to present to Council by November 1St if the City remained in consideration for the site at that point. Council Member Herman stated he would not be able to attend any of the meetings in the following week as he would be travelling. He questioned who had determined that Lakeshore Municipal Golf Course was the site the City wanted to offer to Oshkosh Corporation. Mr. Rohloff stated as he had indicated to Council, prior to sending a letter to Oshkosh Corporation, City staff had not heard anything about a site in Oshkosh that they were interested in. He explained they had hired a consultant, with whom there had been no communication, which led him to be concerned that they were not considering a site in Oshkosh and prompted him to suggest the golf course site. He encouraged the public to read the letter, which asked Oshkosh Corporation to remain in the City as they were important to the community. He stated he had done so on his own, which he believed was something he needed to do as City Manager. He explained without any formal approval from the Council it was important and incumbent upon him to suggest sites to consider. He stated based on his years of experience, he was aware which sites a Fortune 500 company would seek out, and it would go beyond functional needs. He explained it 14 PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMON COUNCIL—SEPTEMBER 26, 2017 was still subject to Council approval and it was not his intention to put Council on the spot as to whether or not to approve the sale of the site, however, he felt it was necessary to suggest Lakeshore Municipal Golf Course as a potential site to try and keep Oshkosh Corporation's headquarters within the City. He stated the letter was not directed by any member of Council, and he did let Council know prior to him sending the letter. He explained his job consisted of making difficult decisions and he believed it was the appropriate choice. Council Member Palmeri questioned if there were other locations that were suggested to Oshkosh Corporation. Mr. Davis explained that City staff worked with Greater Oshkosh Economic Development Corporation (GO-EDC) and the information on more than a dozen sites was provided, which included sites on the north, south, west sides of the City as well as downtown. He stated while they were not certain exactly what criteria Oshkosh Corporation had for their future site, they assumed it was somewhere near 30 acres of land. Council Member Palmeri questioned if Council did decide to consider the sale, at what point would a market analysis be complete to determine a value for the portion of the property that was being discussed. Mr. Rohloff stated they were in the process of getting an appraisal and he believed information could be presented to Council at the next closed session. Council Member Krause explained that he was employed by Oshkosh Corporation and would be recusing himself from any discussion and votes regarding Oshkosh Corporation headquarters. He stated he would fully support whatever decision his fellow Council Members arrived at, and believed their decision would be in the best interest of the citizens and future generations of Oshkosh. He explained a decision had not been arrived at yet, and public input was greatly appreciated. He asked that the public remain respectful of each other, Council and City staff. Mayor Cummings stated he believed it was important to keep in mind that Oshkosh Corporation was looking at sites all over the country. He explained it was a competitive environment and jobs were a major concern for the community. He stated if they selected a site elsewhere it would have a major impact on the area, and the long-term financial 15 PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMON COUNCIL—SEPTEMBER 26, 2017 stability of the City and residents of Oshkosh needed to be kept in the forefront of consideration. Art Dumke,2020 Menominee Drive, stated he was passionate about Oshkosh and wanted to make it a better place. He explained he was concerned about the possibility of the headquarters leaving, which would result in the loss of 450 jobs, and if a downturn occurred it would be more likely that they would keep a plant near their headquarters open. He stated there were thousands of jobs that supported the main manufacturing facility that could be impacted. He explained he was concerned about the potential for the headquarters to end up in Neenah or Menasha. He stated he did not understand the mindset of the Oshkosh community compared to the Fox Valley and believed it was holding the City back. He explained there was a great deal of momentum in the City with the river walk, the renovated YMCA, the rehabilitation of the Eagles Club and the arena amongst others projects. He stated the City struggled to attract big box retailers, and should embrace the consideration of a Fortune 500 company. He explained he understood the sentiments attached to the golf course,however,he believed the potential impact of losing Oshkosh Corporation to an outside community was more important. He stated it was inspiring to meet with people who had traveled the world and saw potential in Oshkosh. He stated in recent years, Oshkosh Corporation had also stepped up their contributions to the Boys and Girls Club and the YMCA. Mark Kainz, 1320 Snowden Drive, stated he was in favor of allowing Oshkosh Corporation to obtain the property. He explained Oshkosh Corporation had been a longstanding part of the community, were a good source of jobs and had been generous in terms of community contributions. He stated developing the golf course into a multi- use venue gave more members of the community use of the site than if it were to remain just a golf course, which he understood was not making much money, which would indicate it was underused. He explained keeping Oshkosh Corporation in the City would improve the tax base. Julia Salomon, 1320 Snowden Drive, explained she was in favor of keeping Oshkosh Corporation in the City. She stated in addition to retaining jobs, the headquarters would expand jobs. She explained Oshkosh Corporation had been founded 100 years ago and had shaped the community. She stated she had lived in Fond du Lac when Mercury Marine was looking at leaving the community, and described the stress that caused on the community. She explained engineers from Oklahoma, the site where Mercury Marine had been interested in, had moved to Fond du Lac because the company decided to stay. 16 PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMON COUNCIL—SEPTEMBER 26, 2017 She stated if Oshkosh Corporation were to leave the City, it would not just be a loss of jobs; top engineers and executive staff would leave. She explained the community needed to think about millennials and what young, professionals wanted when they relocated to a City. She stated they sought out different types of parks, trails and multi- use properties. She explained she had recently attended the Imagine Oshkosh presentation and requested Council imagine Oshkosh without Oshkosh Corporation. Linda Wilkens, W872 Leslie Lane, Green Lake, explained she had lived in Oshkosh for 44 years and was passionate about the City, especially the Rainbow Park and golf course area. She stated she believed Mr. Rohloff had made the decision alone to sell the golf course. She explained she did not understand why he had selected the golf course; she stated it was a City park and that it should not be for sale. She stated she was concerned that the deal was being pushed through fast, which made her think there was something being hidden from the public. She questioned what right Mr. Rohloff had to offer City parks for sale, and what made him choose the golf course over Menominee Park or South Park. She stated she understood the benefit in keeping Oshkosh Corporation in the City, however, did not think Mr. Rohloff should have the power to offer the golf course. She explained although Oshkosh Corporation was 100 years old, the golf course was too. She stated she believed it was flawed thinking to put the interest of a corporation over the interest of people. She explained she believed the City Attorney and City Clerk would need to make a referendum happen if enough signatures were gathered. She stated she believed Oshkosh Corporation should seek out a different site within the City that would improve the community. She explained Oshkosh Corporation would be taking greenspace from the citizens. She stated although jobs were important, there were other things that would attract people to the City. She explained millennials wanted greenspace. Gerry Anklam, 1402 Liberty Street, stated although he was not a golfer,he was concerned about the land that may be sold. He explained future generations would be disappointed if potential park space was sold to a corporation. He stated he had worked for a different company in Oshkosh that had been established for 100 years and was now closed. He explained when it came to large corporations, he had a fear of buyouts. He stated the community needed to work hard to keep Oshkosh Corporation in the area. He explained there was a number of conveniences to corporations in the City, including the airport. He stated he had been surprised that the golf course had been offered as a site. He explained he believed if it was the only site in the City they were willing to build on, the community would need to agree. He stated he understood a lot of jobs were at stake, and hoped that 17 PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMON COUNCIL—SEPTEMBER 26, 2017 the long-term viability of the company was good. He explained he did not believe corporations needed elaborate headquarters. Greg Pierce, 1156 Westwind Drive, Neenah, stated he was the president of the Oshkosh Arena, and he understood that the Council was facing a difficult decision. He explained Oshkosh Corporation did not have an alternative site in the City in mind and while change was difficult, the City was in competition to maintain one of their premiere employers in the community. He stated if the corporation was not satisfied with the proposed site, they would move. He explained the community needed to do everything possible to provide Oshkosh Corporation the opportunity to stay. He stated the purpose of a corporate headquarters was to maintain and retain talent. He explained while he would love the headquarters to be located in the Sawdust District, it was not a viable option. He stated he would not be interested in selling the golf course if it was not the site that was needed to retain the corporation. He explained their supply chain within the community was $150 million, which was not replaceable. He stated the community was moving forward, and the loss of Oshkosh Corporation would set the City back a decade. Michael Goudrea, 4482 Harbor Village Drive, Omro, stated he respected the passion of individuals who had memories tied to the golf course. He explained he believed it was an opportunity to take property that the City owned and improve the overall life experience in the community. He stated there had been significant investments made into the river walk;he envisioned an urban path that followed the north side of the river. He explained the City did not have unlimited resources and it was beneficial to review assets. He stated while he could respect that the golfers wished to keep their course, he did not believe that was best for the overall economic and life conditions of the City. He stated they would be able to create tributary walkways from the neighborhoods into the paths that would allow more park and recreation opportunities. Brett Spangler, 841 Cherry Street, explained he believed this would set a dangerous precedent of being able to sell public park land and wondered what would happen in 50 years when Oshkosh Corporation needed a new headquarters, as the precedent would be set that the City would give them whatever they want. He stated he did not understand how there was potential for increased water accessibility if the headquarters would be built on the waterfront property. He explained the assumption was also being made that the Oshkosh Corporation employees would live in Oshkosh, although the location close to the highway would allow for easy accessibility to other communities. 18 PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMON COUNCIL—SEPTEMBER 26, 2017 He stated the individuals who supported Lakeshore were not against Oshkosh Corporation; they would like the company to remain in Oshkosh as well. He explained he believed the City could come together in unity if Oshkosh Corporation was offered another site, such as the Morgan District. Jamie Chapin, 140 S. Westfield Street, explained he believed there was value in the relationships that were formed on the golf course. He stated it had been a community resource for many years. He explained he understood what was at stake and did not believe anyone wanted to see Oshkosh Corporation leave. He questioned why the City chose an already developed site to offer. He stated he understood it may not be a profitable course, however, he did not believe any of the parks in the City made money. He explained he was willing to listen to what Council had to say, although he still questioned why they could not choose an undeveloped site. He questioned if the City would be able to form a special TIF to create incentive for Oshkosh Corporation to choose an alternative site. Robert Hartley, 1711 Punhoqua Street, stated he had presented a petition to Council with nearly 550 signatures. He explained the petition asked for a City-wide referendum prior to such a significant decision being made. He stated there was a strong emotional attachment to parks, and many individuals had that feeling towards Lakeshore. He explained it was important to note the value the greenspace of a park added to a community. He stated compared to municipalities throughout the state, Oshkosh had some of the lowest amounts of greenspace. He requested that Council exercise their due diligence before making such an important decision. He questioned what would be done with the remaining 70 acres of the site. He stated he believed there were alternative sites in the City, such as the Morgan District, that had several features that could be attractive to Oshkosh Corporation. He encouraged Council to listen to the constituents. He explained the purpose of the Oshkosh Sustainability Advisory Board was to review items that would have an impact on the sustainability of the City. He questioned if they had been consulted. He stated there was concern about the exact plat lines of the land that had been gifted to form Mary Jewell Park. He explained he believed there could be a solution that kept Oshkosh Corporation in the City and saved the golf course. He stated a City-wide referendum should decide the issue. Bruce Sager, 1703 Punhoqua Street, stated it was not a given that Oshkosh Corporation would stay in the community if they purchased the golf course. He explained there were a number of sites within the City that could support the headquarters. He stated he was 19 PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMON COUNCIL—SEPTEMBER 26, 2017 disturbed that the City Manager would offer a City park to Oshkosh Corporation without consulting Council. He explained he believed that there were several companies who would like to build on desirable property such as Central Park in New York City, and although they may be Fortune 500 companies, the municipalities still would not sell park land. He stated Oshkosh Corporation was looking for a site for their headquarters; their factories and supply lines would remain in Oshkosh. He explained there was never a guarantee with any company that they would remain in the City. He stated he had heard the argument that the park was only used for part of the year, and he questioned how giving the park to Oshkosh Corporation would give citizens additional access. He explained it was one of the few locations in the City where individuals were able to fish right out of their vehicles. He stated it was explained at the beginning of the meeting that the purpose of the Council was to maintain the quality of life in Oshkosh, and he did not understand how taking away a park would improve quality of life. He requested that they not be the Council that 'paved paradise'. Jonathan Doemel, 455 Zarling Avenue, stated he was not in favor selling Lakeshore to Sam's Club; he was in favor of selling it to a Fortune 500 company that had the name of Oshkosh. He explained the company had a community wide impact, through donations to the food pantry and the Boys and Girls Club. He stated he believed citizens took Oshkosh Corporation for granted; they donated $90,000 to the Boys and Girls Club this year and other donations had skyrocketed in the community from the corporation due to Wilson Jones. He explained Wilson Jones grew up below the poverty line and was an example of the American dream. He stated he understood losing the golf course would be a sacrifice. He explained it went beyond golfers and jobs; it would have a widespread impact on the community. He stated he did not want to look back and think that the community had not done everything it could to keep Oshkosh Corporation here. He explained he did not blame Mr. Rohloff for suggesting the golf course to make sure the City was considered for a site. Bill Wyman, 1373 Waugoo Avenue, stated he was the president/CEO of the Oshkosh Community Foundation, and believed Oshkosh needed to find the right place for the right company. He explained what Oshkosh Corporation did for the community was significant. He stated last year they had given $1 million in corporate gifts and 80% of that had stayed in Oshkosh. He explained they provided considerable scholarships. He stated without Oshkosh Corporation, the day by day warming shelter, food pantry, Boys and Girls Club and the YMCA would suffer. He explained the City could not afford to have a major corporation leave the community. He stated the corporate office acted as 20 PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMON COUNCIL—SEPTEMBER 26, 2017 an anchor to the community. He explained Oshkosh Corporation also donated time by packing food for United Way and Feeding America and sat on nearly every board within the community. Cindy Dobish, 1185 Christian Drive, stated she believed there needed to be more consideration of the balance in the City between businesses and greenspace. She explained she watched the City grow and did not see parks/greenspace increasing. She stated the golf course property was some of the most beautiful property within the City. She explained once it was gone it would be lost to future generations. She stated the golf course had shaped her husband's career. She explained she appreciated the City's parks and wished there were more. She stated she was concerned if the golf course was sold future generations would not be able to have the same experiences she and her husband had growing up. She explained she understood there was a possibility for additional development to take place on the site. She stated she believed it was disturbing to see decisions being made and citizens being unaware of what was going on. Anne Dickey, 1813 Northpoint Street, stated she had grown up on a farm where for the last 25 years her grandmother had fought the seizure of the farm and surrounding property to form a municipal sewer facility. She stated while she did not have passion for the golf course, she cared about the idea of land going to a purpose that may not be the best. She explained the way the potential sale had occurred was troublesome. She stated she believed there was a lack of transparency and the golfers who would make the sacrifice in the event of a sale were not being asked their thoughts directly. She questioned if things may be different if Oshkosh Corporation made the request. She stated while there was public input meetings hosted by the City on the topic, Oshkosh Corporation had yet to comment. Bob Weber, 1100 Farmington Avenue, stated a similar situation had occurred several years ago with Lakeshore Golf Course. He stated the City had considered closing the course, and several petitions were circulated, which resulted in the course remaining open. He questioned why the City Manager had selected the golf course as the site to offer when there were other properties that would suffice. He stated there were many unknowns with Oshkosh Corporation; he explained it seemed as though the City believed if it offered them the golf course they would stay, which may not be the case. Ryan Birschbach, 1055 W. 191h Avenue, explained it was an important topic and thanked everyone who had decided to speak. He stated Oshkosh was in competition with sites 21 PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMON COUNCIL—SEPTEMBER 26, 2017 all over the country. He explained the City needed to put forth its best offer to avoid losing the corporate headquarters to a different municipality. He suggested presenting an additional option to Oshkosh Corporation to maintain their interest. Mayor Cummings thanked all of the speakers and those in attendance. He explained there had been a great deal of civility on a contentious topic and he appreciated that. Council Member Pech encouraged individuals to attend the public input sessions. He stated it would be promoted on the City website. He explained the word 'give' had been mentioned several times throughout the evening, and wished to emphasize that nothing was being given to Oshkosh Corporation. He stated he did not believe any member of the Council would give away public land. He encouraged anyone with questions to reach out to Council via phone or email. He stated they were listening, and regardless of the decision Council reached, one 'side' of the issue would be disappointed, although that did not mean that Council had not listened to their concerns. Council Member Palmeri thanked the individuals who had travelled from a distance to weigh in on the issue because they were so passionate. She stated she would be curious as to why they chose to live outside of the community if Oshkosh was that important to them. She explained she could be reached via email or phone call. CITIZEN STATEMENTS TO COUNCIL There were no citizen statements to Council. CO UNCIL MEMBER ANNO UNCEMENTS & STATEMENTS There were no Council Member announcements or statements. CITY MANAGER ANNO UNCEMENT AND STATEMENT Mr. Davis explained City staff had been working on updating the typical timeline/process of TIF planning. He stated he understood Council wanted to be involved earlier and more often therefore they were working that into the process while trying to keep the length of the process the same. He explained they were working on the scoring sheet, application form and parameters for developers agreements. He stated he believed 22 PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMON COUNCIL—SEPTEMBER 26, 2017 Council would have all of the information to review prior to the October 101h Council meeting. Council Member Herman questioned if it would incorporate the proposed mixed use TIF that had been discussed. Mr. Davis stated yes. Mr. Rohloff explained the arena project continued to go well. He stated 111h Avenue was nearly complete and the remainder of the report was provided to Council. Council Member Pech stated he had heard Oshkosh was number one or two in the franchise for season ticket sales thus far. He questioned if that were true. Greg Pierce, Oshkosh Arena, explained yes, Oshkosh was the number 5 team in the league in terms of revenue and number one in terms of new season ticket sales. He stated they had sold over 900 season tickets which did not include any partial seasons or single games. Council Member Herman recommended that the closed session be delayed until the October 101h Council meeting if Council was in agreement. MOTION: ADJOURN (Panske; second, Pech) CARRIED: VOICE VOTE The meeting adjourned at 8:31 p.m. PAMELA R. UBRIG CITY CLERK 23 24